Key Facts
• June 13, 2025: Retail leaders met with Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in Tokyo.
• Retailers requested an extension of the August 2025 sales deadline for stockpiled rice.
• Current deadline: Rice must be sold by the end of August 2025.
• Challenges cited: Limited milling facilities and strained logistics.
• Seven-Eleven Japan plans to start selling stockpiled rice on June 17, 2025.
• Seven-Eleven CEO Tomohiro Akutsu highlighted severe pressure on milling facilities.
• Lawson CEO Sadamitsu Takezawa noted labor shortages and tight milling schedules.
• Concerns raised about meeting the August deadline under current conditions.
Summary
On June 13, 2025, major supermarket and convenience store executives met with Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in Tokyo to address challenges surrounding the sale of government stockpiled rice. Retailers requested an extension of the current sales deadline, set for the end of August 2025, citing logistical bottlenecks and limited milling capacity. Seven-Eleven Japan CEO Tomohiro Akutsu emphasized the strain on milling facilities, while Lawson CEO Sadamitsu Takezawa expressed concerns over labor shortages and the feasibility of meeting the deadline. With Seven-Eleven set to begin sales on June 17, 2025, and other retailers already struggling, the issue highlights the urgent need for solutions to ensure timely distribution.
